Sterilizing container



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G M GROSS STERILIZING CONTAIMEH Filed March 24. 1923 Patented July l?, 1.925..

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Application led March 24, 1922. Serial No. 546,388.

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Be it known that I, GILBERT M. Gnoss, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Eldorado Springs, in the county of Cedar and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful mprovements in Sterilizing Containers, of which the following 1s a specification. v

My invention relates generally to containers, and more particularly toa container which isl adapted to be used inlaboratories,

hospitals and like places to receive instru-` ments to be sterilized or to hold instruments in a sterilized condition, and it consists in the x combinations, constructions and arrangements herein described and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a container having a `plurality of compartments, each separate and distinct from the other compartments, and each being adapted to permit of instruments to be sterilized or kept in a sterilized condition being removably disposed therein.

A further objectvof my invention is toy provide a container which" comprises an outer casing and a pluralityof cells arranged within the outer casingin rspaced relation thereto and in respect to one another, the cells being removable fromV the outer casing at will for cleaning or other purposes.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and the novel features of the invention will ybe particularly outlined in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which `Figure l is a perspective View of a practical embodiment of the invention, portions thereof being broken away, l

Figure 2 is'an enlarged vertical sectional view through the container, and

Figures 3 and 4 respectively, are horizontal sections on different planes through the container, portions of the `structure `exhibited in Figure 4 being broken away. l

In carrying out my invention, provide a container casing 1 which is preferably cylindrical in conformation and is made of any suitable material, preferably glass. The container casing l includes a bottom 2 which is an integral part thereof. An arched or convexo-concaved lid 3 fits upon the conof a quadrant. Y

tainer casing lat the upper end thereof in such manner as to have a fluid tightv fit therewith and'to be removable at will. A knob or rhandle 4 maybe attached to the'lid Y3 centrally thereof forconvenience in removing or replacing the lid. The container casing l 'preferably has a pair of diametrically 'opposed outwardly extending ears 5 5 whichy provide `'hand 4holds when it is desired to move'the container. f

An inwardly extendingcontinuous rib 6 lying in a plane parallel to the bottom 2 is formed on the inner` wall ofthe container `casing at a determined Adistance from thev upper end thereof. I Diametrically disposed 0 cross members 7 vand 8 respectively are pro? vided at the upper end of the container cas-- ing in such positiontha'tthe plane of the upper side of each coincides with the plane of the upper side of the other cross member and with the plane of the upper side of the rib 6.` In the embodiment of the invention lillustrated, the rib 6 and the diametricallv disposed cross members T and 8 are formed integrally with one anothery and with the 0 walls of the container casing l, all being made of glass.y rfho cross members 7V and 8 intersect each other intermediately substar tially at right angles so that the portions ofthe rib 6 subtended by adjacent radial arms or p'ortions'of the cross membersare equal and respectively cooperate with the -subtending radial portions to providev su pension frames, each of which has the form v -v eo Each suspension frame supports a cell 9 through the agency of an outwardly extending continuous flange l0 formed upon the latter at the upper end thereof and adapted to rest upon adjacent radial portions of the intersecting cross members 7 and 8 and the subtended portion of the annular rib 6 when the body ofthe cell rhas been lowered into the position in which illustrated in Figure 2. It is also to be observed at this point that the height of the cell 9 is considerably less than that of the container casing l, whereby a space 1l is provided between the lower ends of the cells and the bottom 2 when the cells are supported by the suspension frames to depend within the container casing, as best seen in Figure 2. rlhe several cells are likewise spaced from the inner wall of the sides of the container casing by the ribs 6 and each cell is spaced a removable closure 12 having a marginal flange portion 13 adapted to overlie the side walls of the cell at the upper en d thereof to precludethe possibility of the closurey being accidentally dropped into the cell when removed therefrom orfplaced thereon. The

lclosure 12' for each cell has afluid tight -fit therewith andis v`provided with a hand hold' 14 on the upper side thereof to permit of the' convenient removal of -each closure. A closure 15 common .to alltheicells'Qiis adapted to interfit the'container casing 1 toliefin 'superimposedrelation to the several closures y12. The closure 155is4 substantially Aliatv and 1an air space'l is thus defined between the lclosure 15 andthe jlid3. 'l A lug 17 may be v providedupon theclosure 15 in positionto conveniently grasped to effect the removal of the closure fromfthecontainer :casing or the replacement of the vclosure in the conf` ktainer` casing yao -From "the foregoingndeseription ofthe variousxparts of the device, `the operation thereof may be readily understood.- Rach .cell 9 is vadaptedto khold* a liquid or any other lfluid which itis desiredto use insterilizingy instruments, in keeping sterilized in-- struments ortho like in an uncontaminated condition or in .like operations. l' Each cell is 'separate and distinctfrom every other cell comprised in the device and is provided with 'aseparatefluid tight lclosure or lid. It will .be obviousfthat articles may be placedwithin o r removed from any cellselectedv withoutv in any wayv disturbing the contents of the remaining cells., 1 ,Y c

' If desired, he container` casing 1 and the llid therefor may be painted or treated in any other suitable known lmanner to retard n or prevent -the passaygeof raysjoflight through the walls thereof; v

An important advantage of they invention is derived from the construction of the con` .tainer which permitsof the removal ofthe lcells from the container casing for the pur# posesof cleaning the cells or the interior 'fof `the container casing,v or for any Vother reason. i

Obviously, invention is susceptibleof embodiment in forms `otherthan. that inA c which it is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and I. therefore consideras my own all modifications and adaptationsof the f form of the '.devicepdisclosed hereiirwhich Vfairly fall within thes'cope ofthe appended claims.

Ivclaimis2-f 1. In combination, a containercasing conf y* sisting ofxa cylindrical. body closed at its lowereiid, andan arched removable lid for lthefupper vend thereof,L a pluralityof `cells i -vlaving thus described the inventionwhat a'dapteditolieiiii-juxtaposed spaced relation v within the container casing, means-'within .relation toyone another and tol-the bottom -and side wallsof the container easing, lalfre- -movable yclosure for the upper end-rofl each e lcell,and a'lclosurefitting within' the con` tainerfcasing at the upper end thereof to rest upon the closures ofthe vsaid cells, f

2. In a device of thecharacter described ancontainer casinghaving afclosed` lowery end `k the container easingl for removably sup-` porting the cells within the casing in spaced andan open-upperend, a plurality o fvcells adapted to`lie: in juXtaposed spaced relation within the container -casinfY meansy within thecontainercasing for removably su'ppfoiting the cells Within the casing; a'remoyable v i `closure for vthe upperend of eachycellyand a `closure tting *w'fithinVV the container'v casing at the'upperifend thereof to rest upon: the closures of the saidcells.1,. 1

' GiLBnRT MENDENHALL Sinossi- 

